It was a massive task to bring the Ford F-150 back to Australia even in its most basic guise, but Ford fans are already asking about the F-150 Lightning electric pick-up, F-150 Raptor performance model, as well as hybrid, diesel, and V8 versions. Here's what you need to know.
has been pushed back to early next year, however its arrival will likely
start the local rollout of other Ford electric cars.
Ford Australia originally planned to launch the
Ford Escape PHEV (which stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) by the end of this year but delays throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed back its arrival.
Although the Ford Escape PHEV will likely be priced
close to or in excess of $50,000 – the rival
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV starts from $47,390 plus on-road costs – its arrival will bring plug-in hybrid technology to more buyers.
In a media briefing this week the boss of Ford Australia Andrew Birkic indicated there were
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F-150 pick-up, the reborn
Mustang Mach-E in Australia will need to be patient or consider another car.
Ford is
no closer to introducing any of its latest iconic vehicles from the US – despite the runaway success of the Ram and Chevrolet pick-ups locally, the Bronco having strong Australian engineering involvement, and the Mustang Mach-E being built in right-hand-drive.
The
three out of every four vehicles sold by Ford Australia is based on one model.
The Ranger ute and Everest 4WD – which are largely twins under the skin, co-developed in Australia, and made on the same production line in Thailand – accounted for an overwhelming
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Ford is discreetly pulling equipment off the Ranger – its top-selling model – as it prepares to introduce runout offers later in the year to make way for its next generation pick-up.
In the past six months Ford has removed “acoustic” or sound-deadening glass from certain Ranger models. Other items out of view, such as the plastic pocket under the back seat – previously packaged with the spare wheel bottle jack – has also been quietly deleted.
Ford Australia has revealed other small changes are coming:
the CD player will be removed from the Ranger by the end of this year as more customers switch to streaming services and music data files.